Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-05-13
Matters Grave and Gay for
the Amusement gfthe
Little Ones.
TIE CABIN BOYS TREAs SURE.
An Interesting account Of Shpwreck,
and the Brave Captains Loye for
the Little Cabin-Boy,
The Cabtn-B oy's Treasure.

mercy upon us, for the rocks will have
none!" TX
So muttered through his clinched
teeth Gas he strained his eyes through
the binding spray to catch the dim
loom of the cliffs right ahead) the Cap
tain of the trading brig Mermaid, home:
ward bound to London from the Bra
lillian port of Pernambuco.
It was indeed all over with the poor
old brig. Both her masts were gone,
her wheel and steering-gear had been
carried away, and tremendous sea was
sweeping her straight toward the Wild
est and rockiest part of the southwest
coast of England. For himself CAPT.
Barrett would have cared little, accus-
toned as he was to face every kind Of
danger without finching; but his wife
and her little girl were on board along
with him, and what was to become Of
them?
Close by the captains side, clinging
as tightly as his benumbed and cramped
finders would let him to the jagged
stump of the mainmast Qbehind which
Mrs. Barrett and her child had been
placed for shelter), stood Bill the cabin
boy, bright-eyed, curly-haired little
fellow, barely 10 years old. The kind
hearted captain had found him wander
ing disconsolately about the East India
docks, ragged and hungry; and remem-
bering the time when he himself had
been just such poor and friendless
boy, had taken the for1orn lad abroad
the Mermaid, where he had remained
ever since.
Bill was much better off than most
ship-boys, for instead of being starved
md beaten, as they usually were i'll
those rough days, he was made regu-
lar pet both by the captain and the
rrew. But he was not their only
ravorite, for Capt Barrett had brought
back from Brazil Il queer little South
American raccoon, not much bigger
Than rat, and looking very like one,
with its long, sharp snout and sleek
Drown coat. ALI through the home
ward voyage, Zip, as the coon was
called, was the chosen playmate of the
sailors, who were never tired of running
about the forecastle with him, or feed
ing him on pieces OF softened biscuit
But now, when every man on board ex-
pected to be struggling for his life
within few minutes, poor Zip seemed
likely to be left to take care of himself,
End to have but poor chance for es-
cape.
Suddenly Bill was seen to leave his
place and to pick his way like rope
lancer across the rocking, reeling deck,
over which the furious sea broke every
moment in roaring waterfalls of foam.
One would hardly have thought the
little cabin-boy likely to possess any
treasure for which he would care to
risk his life; but it was plain enough
That he did, for when he got back to his
place (after venturing down to the
lower deck) he had something buttoned
up inside his jacket, of which he seemed
to be very careful indeed.
He was barely in time, for scarcely
had he caught hold of the broken mast
once more when the doomed vessel was
suddenly whirled upward on the crest
OF an enormous wave, as if she were
being flung up into the very sky. Then
she flew forward with amazing swift
ness, and tremendous crash was heard
as her bow was driven hard and fast
between two low jagged rocks!
The shock threw all on board off
their feet, and they chung in desperation
to whatever they could seize, as the
waves poured over the stern like a
cataract. For moment it seemed as
if the whole vessel must go to pieces at
once; but no-she held firm, and there
was still chance for life. ....
But what was to be done next? They
were indeed only very little way
from the land; but how were they to
reach it? The only plan was for some
one to swim ashore with rope; and
this. in the teeth of the great seas that
came laundering in every moment,
would be as deadly a venture as to
charge through shower of cannon
balls.
But help was at hand. The drifting
wreck had long since been deserted
from the shore, and suddenly bright
flash shot out from the brow of the
cliff, and something like fiery star
came kissing toward the stranded brig
through the darkness which the first
pale CLEAN of dawn was just beginning
to pierce. 1t was rocket, with rope
attached to it.
Such was the fury Of the storm that
the messenger of safety all but missed
its mark. The line fell just upon the
shattered bow, and would have dropped
off into the sea in another instant had
not one of the sailors sprung forward
and caught it. 1t was quickly made
fast, while those on shore secured the
other end, and the way of escape lay